Bapstism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism, we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made shareers in her mission. (CCC 1213).

Infant Baptism is for children from birth to age seven. Parents are encouraged to contact the parish to schedule a baptism as soon as possible, at least one month in advance. Baptisms during Mass may be celebrated at any one of our regularly scheduled Sunday liturgies. The church can be reserved for private baptisms (outside the Sunday Mass) on one Saturday (late morning or early afternoon) each month (we will combine baptism celebrations in a given month as needed). Exceptions may be made with enough notice; please contact the Director of Religious Education (contact info below) for more information.

Requirements for Parents:

• At least one parent must be Catholic.
• Parents must be registered parishioners at Saint Joseph.
• All first-time parents (baptizing their first child) and new parishioner parents must participate in our pre-baptism formation program prior to having your child baptized.

Requirements for Godparents:

• At least one godparent is required. This person must be at least 16 years old and a confirmed Catholic who lives their faith and is willing to accept the responsibility of supporting their godchild in the Catholic faith. 
• If there are two godparents, one must be male and one must be female. 
• Click here for FAQs about selecting your child's Godparents.
• Click here to download a Godparent Information Form.
• Click here to download the Christian Witness Form.

If you would like to have your child baptized at Saint Joseph Church, please contact: 

Sean Driscoll
Director of Religious Education
574-234-3134, ext. 114
sdriscoll@stjoeparish.com

Children ages seven and older and adults, who have not been baptized, are eligible to join the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program offered by the Christian Formation Commission. RCIA will prepare them for full initiation into the Catholic Church.

All individuals, seven and older, interested in receiving the Sacrament of Baptism or learning about becoming Catholic are invited to the RCIA program.

For more information on the RCIA program contact:

Sean Driscoll
Director of Religious Education
574-234-3134, ext. 114
sdriscoll@stjoeparish.com